'EASTER: SPIRITUAL TRIUMPH OR COSMIC TRICK?' - A sermon by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar (Traditional Service)

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 1, 2018, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION These teaching stories are shocking and memorable due to the ways they conclude. We read that: the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, a widow gives away her last two coins to the church, two loaves of bread and fish feed thousands, an adulterous woman is allowed to go unpunished. The greatest parable of them all perhaps is that the one who comes to save the world is killed in a humiliating way while the world is still a warring and oppressive mess. In two of the four bible accounts there is another twist to the story. Two gospels claim their is no body in the tomb and Jesus rappers after he dies. In Native American spirituality (Coyote stories), African traditions (Briar Rabbit) and elsewhere there is often a trickster character who teaches through unexpected jokes, tricks and twists of fate. On this Easter and April Fool's Day let's look at how Jesus' parables and ministry relates to the many spiritual traditions that include trickery, teaching stories and imagination. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/fEiFrSzK0As SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=allsoulsunitarian GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllSoulsTulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org